JinChang Emerges as the Nickel Capital
JinChang, perched in the Hexi Corridor along the Belt and Road, is more than just an industrial city—it’s the "capital of nickel," a title earned through its abundant mineral resources and the rise of JinChuan Group. As Gansu Province’s first national civilized city, Jinchang boasts accolades like national health city and garden city, reflecting its blend of industrial might and livability. Its story, sparked by a 1958 malachite find containing 0.9% nickel and 16.5% copper, intertwines with JinChuan Group, a state-owned giant that has fueled the city’s growth for over six decades.
JinChuan’s Growth Fuels JinChang’s Prosperity
Founded to build a national nickel base, JinChang and JinChuan share a symbiotic bond. With government backing, JinChuan has grown into a global leader, producing 200,000 tons of nickel (4th worldwide), 1.1 million tons of copper (4th in China), 17,000 tons of cobalt, and more, including platinum group metals, gold, and chemical products. Its 2023 rankings—289th on the Fortune Global 500 and 85th on the Fortune China 500—underscore its economic impact on Jinchang, where enterprise success and resource wealth go hand in hand.
Sustainability Shapes the JinChang Model
Beyond extraction, JinChang prioritizes sustainability through a pioneering circular economy. Since producing its first electrolytic nickel cathode in 1964, JinChuan Group has honed its smelting and processing, while the city has built the "JinChang Model"—a resource-recycling, tech-driven framework recognized as one of China’s 12 top regional circular economy cases. This model balances industrial growth with green development, turning waste into value and fostering symbiotic industries.
Innovations Drive New Energy Leadership
JinChuan’s innovations shine in products like the hand-tearable nickel strip, a 0.05mm-thick marvel of precision. “Its conductivity, corrosion resistance, and machinability make it ideal for new energy batteries, electronics, and specialty components,” says Miao Chengpeng, chairman of JinChuan Group Nickel Alloy Co., Ltd. Alongside this, JinChuan produces 5,000 tons of copper foil for electronic materials annually, while JinChang’s ecosystem supports 500,000 daily new energy batteries and 30,000 tons of lithium battery anode material from Xinjinyuan. These efforts have transformed JinChang into the Hexi Corridor’s largest new energy battery production base, linking traditional industries with emerging sectors in a robust supply chain.
A Vision for a Sustainable Future
JinChang’s rise reflects JinChuan’s mission—aligned with President Xi Jinping’s innovation-driven vision—to blend resource wealth with sustainable progress. From nickel to batteries, the "capital of nickel" is thriving, proving that abundant resources, paired with green innovation, can power a city—and an industry—into the future.
